Kitty Kelley Book Implodes as Key Witness Recants

NewsMax .com ^ | 9/09/04 | Carl Limbacher

[kattracks]

The big bombshell promised by Kitty Kelley in her scorching anti-Bush book "The Family: The Real Story of the Bush Dynasty," has prematurely imploded, with a key witness behind the book's central charge now denying Kelley's version of her account.

"I categorically deny that I ever told Kitty Kelley that George W. Bush used cocaine at Camp David or that I ever saw him use cocaine at Camp David," ex-Bush sister-in-law Sharon Bush said in a statement issued yesterday, according to the Washington Post. Instead, said the one-time Bush family insider, "When Kitty Kelley raised drug use at Camp David, I responded by saying something along the lines of, 'Who would say such a thing?'"

The recantation of the book's central charge has flummoxed media outlets that were planning a mega roll-out for the anti-Bush screed.

When contacted by NewsMax Thursday morning, a spokesman for NBC's "Today Show," which had planned to showcase Kelley's book for three straight mornings in a row next week, couldn't say whether Sharon's statement would change their plans.

Newsweek magazine had already rejected an offer to excerpt the Kelley book because the Bush ex was the sole source of Kelley's big bombshell, with lead reporter Howard Fineman complaining Tuesday that the cocaine story was "un-checkable and an otherwise un-witnessable allegation. So if that's the best she's got, that's why we took a pass on it."

Despite the Sharon Bush debacle, Kelley's publisher is so far hanging tough.

"Doubleday stands fully behind the accuracy of Ms. Kelley's reporting and believes that everything she attributes to Sharon Bush in her book is an accurate account of their discussions," Associate Publisher Suzanne Herz told the Post. "Ms. Kelley met with Sharon Bush over the course of a four-hour lunch on April 1, 2003, at the Chelsea Bistro in Manhattan."

Still, industry insiders are wary of a repeat of the publishing disaster that transpired the last time a book claimed Bush was a coke user.

In 1999, St. Martin's Press was forced to recall 90,000 copies of "Fortunate Son," which alleged that then candidate George W. Bush had been arrested on a cocaine charge in 1972.

Only after the book hit stores did St. Martin's learn that the author of "Son," J.H. Hatfield, had served five years in jail in connection with a conspiracy to commit murder. The Bush book debacle is believed to have contributed to Hatfield's 2001 suicide by drug overdose.

[NEBO]

And I don't care if Prez or Mrs. Bush or J Kerry smoked pot in the 1960s. I was in college by 1969 and pot was literally everywhere. No big deal. As for all her lies, I don't believe her ever anyway.

[kevkrom]

Wonder what Katie Couric's gonna do now for three mornings next week?

I'm sure O'Neill of the Swift Vets could make time... :)

[fuzzy122]

"Did they give Unfit for Command 3 days? Did 60 minutes interview John O'Neill for an hour ala Michael Moore, Richard Clark, and this most recent guy from Texas?:

I'm sure they did, we all just must have missed it!

You can always get The New Soldier by John Kerry here:

Stay Strong,
Fuzzy122

[PAR35]

Newsweek actually did something right?

They may be part of the mainstream media conspiracy, but they aren't stupid.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Waaaah wah wah waaaaaaah.

[meatloaf]

I have no doubt she'll ditch him if it's to her advantage. She'll have to run that by a focus group and do some polling first.

[jennyjenny]

Why no tape recording of this? Isn't that common practice?

[daybreakcoming]

Can't wait to see where B&N and Borders display this POS

[Old Sarge]

So take heart. Things are changing.

I'll take heart when I see that The Sheep change. They've got a decade-long track record that's pretty solid.

You joined the History Book Club, which is a great thing in and of itself. And you also realized the bias right off. Why? Because you don't trust the MSM, by virtue of FR and your own intellect.

The Sheep have been bred for generations to believe whatever they see and read, never doubting in their blind trust. The vast numbers of Sheep are techno-phobes, and it's reinforced by the MSM: Web porn, Web scams, the dot.com bust, the Internet isn't safe for your kids, boogedy-boogedy. And The Sheep believe it. So, the value of the Internet in reaching The Sheep is hopelessly marginalized.

I will laud and give kudos to the SBVT, because they saw how The Sheep would react right off - and they went public with their stategery, right where even the MiniTrue couldn't hide it from The Sheep for long. But the MSM also controls the hearts and minds, and it's a long way to November.

[alwaysconservative]

They *could* replace the KK lies with some cool Swiftees coverage instead, and I might be persuaded to spend some time watching the Today show again.

[Spook86]

I can see this book being recalled rather quickly; according to various press reports, Ms. Kelly never took notes during her interview with Sharon Bush. If Ms. Bush filed a libel suit, Kelly would almost certainly lose, given her inability to substantiate/confirm the quote. As the editor of Time noted the other day, "we'd have to fact-check the hell out it (Kelly's book)," before it could appear in his magazine.

The fact that Time, Newsweek and even fluff publications like "People" have taken a pass on this book speaks volumes about its veracity. With their boy Kerry down in the polls, they would love to run the Kelly book. I would love to see the memos from the corporate lawyers explaining why the Kelly tome should not be excerpted, or how much money the company could expect to lose through lawsuits.

Meanwhile, NBC soldiers on, determined to give Kelly's dirt an undeserved airing...I guess NBC has made its last payment to Richard Jewell (their last libel victim), and feels ready to lose more of GE's money.

[manic4organic]

I find the timing of this...suspicious :::snicker:::

[alwaysconservative]

Good catch.

[alwaysconservative]

Good catch.

[Arrowhead1952]

Egg on face ping for Al Queda couric ping.

[Antoninus]

Couldn't have happened to a sweeter dame...



Poison Pen: The Unauthorized Biography of Kitty Kelley

[COBOL2Java]

"The Bush book debacle is believed to have contributed to Hatfield's 2001 suicide by drug overdose. "

Kitty should follow his lead.

If Kitty displeases Hillary, she may be found in Fort Marcy Park...

[Ole Okie]

I wonder how fat the check will be, and I wonder what kind of slime they will dredge up from her past to convince her that taking the check and shutting up is a good idea.

Based on past Democrat tactics, they'll just inquire if she knows where her cat may be.

And about the health of her kneecaps.

[Camachee]

Why no tape recording of this? Isn't that common practice?

Not when you are just having lunch, a few drinks, and a casual, chatty conversation. Especially if it's just background and off the record. Besides, a tape is so inconvenient for people of a creative bent.

[Landru]

"The big bombshell promised by Kitty Kelley in her scorching anti-Bush book 'The Family: The Real Story of the Bush Dynasty,' has prematurely imploded, with a key witness behind the book's central charge now denying Kelley's version of her account.
'I categorically deny that I ever told Kitty Kelley that George W. Bush used cocaine at Camp David or that I ever saw him use cocaine at Camp David,' ex-Bush sister-in-law Sharon Bush said in a statement issued yesterday, according to the Washington Post."

HA!!
Well-well-well.
Sounds like a text book case of *slander* then, doesn't it?

"Instead, said the one-time Bush family insider, 'When Kitty Kelley raised drug use at Camp David, I responded by saying something along the lines of, 'Who would say such a thing?'"

This old bag, Kitty Kelly, given her *style* as portrayed above?

...should've confined her ambitions to writing the "News"." {g}